IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON DIFFERENT SECTORS IN ZIMBABWE BACKGROUND EDUCATION AND CHILDREN’S RIGHTS With the advent of COVID-19 in the Southern African region and more specifically in Zimbabwe in March 2020, mechanisms had to be put in place to contain the spread of the virus. These mechanisms impacted different sectors in several ways. This brief unpacks some of the key developments that were noted from the different sectors following the national lockdown and the implementation of the regulations that were enacted around that time. Some of the challenges were also a result of the low levels of preparedness by the government and the sectors as well. Due to the closure of schools, children relied mostly on online classes and this also posed challenges to their welfare, exercise of rights and also exposed them to several challenges including the following: HEALTH The health sector in Zimbabwe particularly the public health facilities faced several challenges which included the following: • • • • • 1 the limited testing capacity and poor contact-tracing systems lack of equipment to manage cases with severe diseases in isolation and treatment centres (limited intensive care unit beds and ventilators) lack of PPE, staff shortage and human resources challenges poor management of returnees in quarantine centres, weak and porous borders corruption in COVID-19 supply tenders See ‘ZIMBABWE 2020 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT’ https://www.state.gov/wp- Closure of schools during lockdown took away the protective sanctuary for children offered by schools, leaving them exposed to sexual exploitation and abuse, including drug abuse there was reportedly an increase in child marriages during the lockdown Children in rural and marginalised communities could not partake in online classes due to restrictions on internet access and affordability With schools closed and impoverished families desperate for income, girls were at a higher risk of being married off or subject to sexual violence1. ChildLine Zimbabwe reported a spike in distress calls from minors Under lockdown, children were also trapped in this vicious cycle of gender based violence as witnesses and/or victims. content/uploads/2021/03/ZIMBABWE-2020-HUMANRIGHTS-REPORT.pdf [Accessed 23 April 2021]